Vox Populi

Mathew Yglesias makes an excellent point in this recent post. By the standards of European politics, even the most progressive proposals of candidates Kucinich and Edwards are squarely within the mainstream. Yet European analysts who scoff at the notion of any true "populist" politicians in today's America are missing

the extent to which populism is a style rather than an ideology. John Edwards doesn't just talk about his policies as good policies, he talks about wresting control over the government from entrenched economic elites and deploying its power on behalf of ordinary people. That is populism and it's different from what a UK Conservative can or would say. Or, rather, a UK Conservative can adopt a populist style or pose, but would need to change the target around to make it something like wresting power from arrogant bureaucrats or public sector unions.
Populism is a real thing, and a quite analytically useful category, but it's not a kind of policy agenda, it's a kind of way of talking about policy.

John Edwards has begun to speak in a populist fashion about his policy proposals, yet he has far to go before he will really rouse the rabble. He cannot miss any opportunity to point out who is rigging the system against working folks, how they are doing it, and why they need to be driven out of town on a rail. Moreover, it isn't just about plutocrats exploiting the poor and middle class. It's entrenched elites rewarding their inept cronies, while ignoring merit and hard work. Even the U.S. Attorneys scandal can be viewed from a populist standpoint. We work hard, pay our taxes, and play by the rules. Why should we be robbed of competent, honest public servants in our Justice Department? So Bushie kids just out of Bible School, who don't know James Madison from James Brown, can administer loyalty oaths to purge the department of distinguished jurists, and replace them with corrupt party hacks?

A true populist spends very little time distinguishing himself, or herself , from others who aspire to be the people's champion. The populist simply rails against the enemies of the people in the people's name.